TODAY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR AWHILE….

The blogging industry, but specifically holding your standards and your value in a world that can seemingly devalue your time and you as a person, with how saturated the industry has become.

If you’re a blogger and have been for anytime, you know exactly where this is going RIGHT? Like me, you probably get mass quantities of emails from companies asking you to post for free.

YES, FREE.

If I could document the number of companies that contact me daily and ask me to post for free, you know….. to see “how things go” and the conversion rate, so we can see about possibly working together, down the road….

This to me, is a like a company that you are interviewing with ask you to work for free for a few months to see how things go…. I mean, You’d laugh in their face, right? (I hope you would ….girl!)

But unfortunately, this has seemed to become the norm in the blogging world, and I apparently there are alot of girls doing it because there are so many companies stating “they don’t have a budget” to work with.

I don’t know about you but I have a VERY HIGH value on my time. I mean we all have a limited amount of time in the day. Blogging to me, even though I do this more of a creative outlet still takes an immense amount of time and energy. The time shooting, editing, posting and engaging can be overwhelming. So I have no problem telling companies (nicely) that my creativity and time will require some kind of sponsorship. etc….

And I know in the beginning sometimes you need to do what you need to do to grow and for content, so if you ARE going to post without sponsorship, what I would recommend doing is asking the company to commit to at least reposting you on their page for exposure if they have a higher end of following on their IG etc…. I’ve done this before and this can definitely be beneficial for both parties.

So the point of this post, is to remind you to keep your standards high…. in life… and especially in the blogging industry where, I know how much can be expected for free, and how it can feel like you’re being undervalued everytime you get another email asking for free posts

You are important, your time is important and we all need to remember that and stick together to raise the value of the creative efforts we put forth.

Hope this resonated with you in some small way, and would love to hear from you in the comments below!

HAPPY SUNDAY LOVES!

It’s important to reflect every now and again, and the coming of the New Year brings about the perfect opportunity. We remember the good, the bad, and the in between. Some years are better than others, but every year tends to come with a few lessons to be learned. Here are a few important lessons I learned in 2017 that I wanted to share.

1. Take Time For Yourself.

This is an absolute must. If you’re anything like me youre going and going. Time out is necessary to recharge, and I know how hard it can be to unwind, and unplug, but trust me on this one. If you follow me, you know I’ve been fighting off a bug the last few weeks, I’m sleeping an abnormal number of hours, and to the point you may actually compare me bear in winter hibernation. (I’ve taken the term nap to a whole new level) …. Today I decided to cancel all of the days “plans, turn off the phone and just stay home, rest, recharge and of course….nap, between naps. Listen to your body. k?

2. Everyone is on their own journey. Don’t compare your beginning with someone elses middle.

Look I’m in the social media world, so I understand how hard the comparison game hits. Comparison is truly the thief of joy. Everyone is on their own path, and that is the beauty of life. Trust that you are exactly where you need to be, and let the rest go.

3. Give Generously Without Expecting Anything In Return.

To add to this, also give randomly. I love surprising people with little unexpected gifts. It is amazing how something small yet thoughtful, can make someones day.

4. Go Into Every Situation With An Open Mind.

I took a trip to Mexico last year for a house build with a group of amazing people, and came back with a new perspective. Actually quite a few perspectives. For quite a few reasons.

First, I truly got to see how it is so easy to take our everyday for granted it is. If you have been down to Mexico (directly south of San Diego), you know how impoverished some of the areas are there. The people there are so happy, and many of them are living in what we would consider, horrific living situations. Literally …. living in cardboard boxes. If you need an eye opener, or a perspective …. I strongly urge you to go on a trip like this sometime in your life.

There are quite a few other take aways from that trip I’ll save for over a glass of wine (or 5), but another that stands out is the animals. As you probably know, I’m a HUGE animal lover. To say a visit to Mexico and how the animals are viewed is “different than that of America” is an understatement. Stray dogs that look like they haven’t eaten in days, puppies dropped off on the side of the roads….. it was truly heartbreaking. I didn’t come with my own car, and everyone had 46 different (possibly 47) opinions on the way to deal with abandoned puppies. I still don’t understand nor agree with ever leaving a helpless animal to fend for itself, but again, we don’t all think the same, and that is the beauty and heartbreak in life.

Needless to say, the next trip to Mexico I will be coming in my own vehicle so all the abandoned puppies will be coming back. ; )

5. If a man is interested in you, he will find an endless number of reasons why he will see you. A man who is just playing around, or confused about you, will find an endless number of excuses why he can’t show up.

Look I don’t dish on who I date on social media, and I’m even super private with what is shared between friends. So this is way out of my realm of sharing. Names have also been changed, or maybe not changed…. to protect the not so innocent. ; )

I met a guy while I was on a trip to Vancouver the end of 2016 who I’ll refer to as “Derek”. Derek was tall, super handsome and amazing….. And by amazing, I mean…at a lot of things. Tsk Tsk. ; )

But that is neither here nor there.

What Derek wasn’t so great at, was putting forth any effort (past pillow talk) of getting his cute ass on a plane south of Seattle. Everything was in Vancouver – Seattle area’ish due to his work/school schedule. Finally by the third time we’d talked about it, I came to a realization this was not happening.

I do not know about you, but I want a guy who is SO excited about me… will make every excuse to see me any weekend he can get. Even if its just one day.

For those of you on the edge of your seats, Derek soon got the fade out, ( however the barrage of selfies he sent continue to haunt me on every Apple device I own… 🤪)

Girl….Wait for the guy who will make EVERY excuse to see you, not the other way around.

6. Peoples Thoughts And Actions Are a Reflection of Who They Are, Not Who You Are.

Enough said.

7. Surround Yourself With People That Lift You Higher.

We’ve all heard this a gabillion times, but its true.

8. Gratitude Is The Key To Life.

The more I live, the more I am convinced of this. No matter what you’re going through, someone else has it 590 times harder. Living a life full of gratitude, and being happy for what you have will make or break you. I have a gratitude journal and it is one of my most loved possessions.

What were some of your key lessons you learned in 2017? Would love to hear in the comments below!

Valentines Day is just around the corner and like every year I try to search for the most special gifts for the ones that mean most to me ♥ It’s always tricky shopping for that special someone you want to impress, so I’ve rounded up my top gifting picks for him + her today on the blog!

Single or not, Valentine’s day is about showing our loved ones how much they mean to us. So whether it’s your special someone, sister, mom, or best friend..get a little something to show them how much you appreciate having them in your life! I love the idea of making gift baskets with some fun and flirty items like the ones I’ve included below..these gifts have yet to fail!!

You know what I say!….. If you look cute, you’ll be more motivated to work out harder. Don’t ya think?

Here is a quick post of some of my faves rolling into 2018. Love all the pick above and really digging the new colors that Alo Yoga has out for the spring, especially this brick red colored sports bra. You know I’m usually buying all black but little by little I’m breaking out of my rut! haha!

I hope that you love these picks! There are a ton of other styles I loved, but couldn’t find them on the app I am using to put these together so I’ll be doing an update soon! xx

I’m still reminiscing about my trip to London! It has quickly become one of the most interesting cities I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, and I’m already planning my next trip back! I wanted to put together a travel diary and guide to all of my favorite spots, including the hotel I was lusting over, new restaurants and locations to shoot for those of you who are thinking about going! Hope you enjoy 🙂

Where To Stay:

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London

(Note: Not the hotel where I stayed, but one I found after I got back that I am LUSTING over (my mom and I stayed at a DoubleTree which is a train ride from the center of the city, nice if you prefer to be out of the hustle and bustle) …. The building is a piece of art in itself.. it looks so beautiful and romantic in every way possible. The ceilings and walls of the hotel are covered in hand-stencilled art, metalwork and gold.) And the rooms are so dreamy and have an amazing view of the city. I can imagine just lounging in the hotel all day!! The rooms have high ceilings, beautiful drapery, fireplaces, art deco lamps, and beautiful marbling in the bathrooms. This will definitely be where I’ll be staying if I come back on a romantic trip to London!

The hotel spa is the epitome of luxury, with its victorian-inspired space, soft lighting, arched windows, and relaxing treatments.

The lobby of the Saint Pancras:

Where To Eat:

Swan

It’s an iconic restaurant located right above the river with an amazing view of the London bridge and River Thames. What to order? The Beef Wellington and Pot Roast Rosso Chicken are both amazing dishes on the menu. I also highly recommend coming to Swan for afternoon tea and enjoying their exquisite tea, pastries and champagne while looking over one of the best views of the city.

Granger & Co.

This restaurant is great for a casual brunch, simply decorated with cute outdoor seating and nicely presented dishes (great for those IG pics!) The Ricotta hotcakes are a hot item on the menu with a twist.. banana and honeycomb butter!! So incredibly delicious and decadent, you guys won’t be disappointed!!

The Booking Office Restaurant & Bar

This restaurant is located in the lobby of the Pancras hotel, and many tourists also come here from outside the hotel to visit the beautiful decor and try out some of their popular menu items like the Steak Tartare, Pumpkin Gnocchi and Duck Shepard’s Pie!!

Where To Go:

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a must-see in London, especially if your a first-timer. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to take a tour of the inside of the Palace. But exploring the royal grounds and standing in-front of the huge gold gates is truly an experience in itself.

Harrods

One cannot leave London without a trip to the world-famous Harrods! Not only does Harrod’s have the best and most unique selections for fashion & beauty, but the store itself (interior and exterior) is ART!!! Every section of the store is stunning..with it’s metalwork walls, luxurious finishes, and beautiful displays.

High Tea

Fancy high tea in London is tres cliché..but very necessary if your going for the whole British experience! To me it’s the perfect combination..warm scones, tasty pastries, mini sandwiches, different flavors of tea (and maybe a bit of champagne) all served to you on beautiful antique tea saucers and 3-tier plates.

Where To Shoot:

Notting Hill

One of my favorite neighborhoods in London with its unique charm, quaint streets, and colorful antique shops. If you’re looking to walk through a fashionable neighborhood with tons of photo-worthy spots and victorian houses, then this is it! Not the mention, Notting Hill houses Portobello Road which is known to be one of the best markets..think small spice shops, tea emporiums and vintage book stores. I couldn’t get over how pretty all the pastel-colored houses were..it’s so hard to walk past any door without taking a photo!

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is one of the most central parts of London … This area of London is very posh..housing all the luxury boutiques as well as Harrods! If you’re taking a break from shopping, take a stroll to Trevor Square which is a small and quaint neighborhood across the street from Harrods, behind the iconic Topshop. This is where you will find the famous pink & white house, lucky #14 (can I live here already?!)

Overall, my mom and I had a great time in London! I would come back knowing the crazy bustle (and probably try to avoid the wild trains as much as possible) ; )

Maybe I’ll plan a romantic rendezvous next Christmas…the Christmas lights are OFF THE CHAIN around town there and I can see how this would be a fun getaway for a couple before Christmas!

Consumed by wanderlust and seeking the next adventure, my online destination provides a roundtrip ticket into my life, one post at a time. The Siren Confidential is an inspirational editorial platform sharing style, travel, and beauty for the modern consumer.